Pilot In Redwood Shores Crash Made No Radio Calls

REDWOOD CITY (BCN) – Investigators say the pilot of a small plane that crashed in a lagoon off San Francisco Bay, killing three people on board, made no radio transmissions before going down.

The findings were contained in a preliminary report about the Sept. 2 crash in Redwood City released by the National Transportation Safety Board on Friday.

The NTSB says the pilot, 73-year-old William Heinicke, discussed making a left turn with air traffic controllers before taking off from San Carlos Airport.

But after a normal climb, Heinicke made a slight right rudder turn before correcting back. A few seconds later, the plane was observed rolling and turning to the right while descending steeply into the water.

Heinicke, 91-year-old Robert Borrmann and 47-year-old Adelina Urbina-Suarez died in the crash.